TomVH: Demetrius Hart Update

I just spoke with Demetrius Hart about his visit up to Ann Arbor, his quarterback Nick Patti, and what he thinks his next move will be from here. As always, Demetrius had a great time up in Ann Arbor. With Ricardo and his family up there full time it makes it that much easier for Hart to relax and feel at home.

The question that has been looming for Michigan fans is when Demetrius is going to make his final decision, and how the rest of his recruitment will play out. He still plans on graduating early, and enrolling at the school he chooses in January. Here's what he said about the trip, and what's next.

TOM: How was the visit?

DEMETRIUS: It went real well. I've been up there plenty of times now, and every time I go up there I just like it that much more. The changes they're making, and the things they're going are really good. I really liked it. I was more so happy because Nick (Patti) got to see everything up there. You hear all the negativity that goes on, and some of it might be true, but a lot of it isn't. A lot of it is just the media throwing salt on it, so it was good to see that.

TOM: Nick (Patti) mentioned that he's coming up on September 4th for the U Conn game. When are you planning on coming up?

DEMETRIUS: I'm coming for the U Conn game, too. That's when I'm taking my official visit, and I'm bringing my Uncle up with me. We'll see how it goes.

Apparently on the trip Demetrius was told that Denard's passing has improved, and that the offense was more cohesive. He said that he was pleased to hear that, and excited about their potential.

I'm happy to hear that he had a grest trip and enjoyed his visit, but for the immediate future, offensive cohesion is a real plus. Too many drives where they looked great one series and then the next series they could look lost again. Kills momentum at points and just couldn't get over the hill to secure a lead.

Michigan has so much to offer potential recruits from tradition to facilities to unparalleled academic depth that unquestionably many schools with less to offer have to resort to that sort of strategy to play on people's insecurities. It is unfortunate. This said, I think most recruits, based on following TomVH's work and reading the various services, are pretty literate when it comes to the internet and seek other sources (MGoBlog, apparently) to inform their decisions.

Clearly, this is the case with Dee Hart; I'm looking forward to the Hello post.

It is for the football program and the administrators to show off all of our facilities. And it is up to the coaches to impress kids in the recruiting process.

And it is for the guys on the team to show off to recruits that it is fun, and special, to play football at Michigan.

And the University can show of its own academic quality, very nicely, on its own.

MGoBlog can't do much of that work; certainly not on any official basis.

But what MGoBlog can do, is to grind away at "all the negativity that goes on" and to point out that indeed "a lot of it isn't true," as Dee Hart quite rightly observes. In fact, what Dee says is an understatement; it's hard to find much off-field "negativity" that is true.

Reading Dee's comments, it makes me think that MGoBlog's war with much of the press has been a very good thing in the Dee Hart recruitment. Kudos, Tom VH. Thanks, to Brian Cook. And thank you very little, Mr. Rosenberg.

I don't think there's any question that this kid--along with many other high school ballers-- reads this blog. And if it's not the best college football blog in all the land, it is at least the best dedicated to one university.

I wonder how many potential recruits have been and are being swayed by the denizens herein, particularly Brian and TVH.

i am looking forward to the Denard/Devin and D.Hart show whereas the Dilithium results in our biggest concern being our Defense not being able get a drink on the sidelines as they will be running back out to the field after two plays and a touchdown...

We're back and UConn is going to be the unfortunate recipient of three years of pent up frustration.

... I get goose bumps and extremely excited for what's about to come. I don't feel like a guy with so much optimism that I'm blind to reality but I just feel like something good is about to happen. I've always trusted RR would turn it around and have been thinking, for a good 5 months now, that UConn was unfortunate to be the home opener.

Man, I just had the same thing happen before I even read your comment. Imagine the team just coming out and destroying Uconn. Gives me chills thinking about that possibility. What a momentum push and a statement that would be for the season.

I hope he will sign with us. He will definitely be a fan favorite. Hart will probably wait to see how this season goes before making a decision. If RR can get the team to a 6-6 or 7-5 record and a bowl game, then Hart may sign. I hope he does! May be we can give him the number 1 jersey!!!

It will be interesting to see if that tradition changes. It's a pretty young tradition - AC was the first WR to wear #1 - and really only has a few other classic examples: Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, and Braylon Edwards. Even in the mid-90s it wasn't a hard-and-fast tradition; remember Tyrone Butterfield?

Plus, with RR's spread-and-shred, the chances of having a single dominant WR are much smaller than they were with Lloyd's statuesque dropback downfield passers. I think it's much more likely that the WRs will be divided into the slot ninjas getting 7-10 rec/game at 10 yards a catch and the deep threats getting 3-5 shots per game at 20 yard gains. Neither role would really produce a dominant guy who is the focus of the defense in the mold of Braylon or Terrell.

In RR's offense the RB is really the big-play threat, so I would be OK with the #1 going to a RB, particularly a dynamo like D.Hart.

Almost every player that visted this week had a good time Hobbi,Walsh,Fisher,Hart,Patti,Hayes.Really seems like the coaches are doing a good job of fighting the negative recuirting thats precived to be out there.Can't wait till September 4,and every game after that.GO MICHIGAN!!!

and Nick the chance to experience Ann Arbor. I'm still waiting for the first player that texts MgoBlog just before he puts on the Michigan cap. Good luck to Demetrius and Nick, hope you guys have a great year.

Apparently on the trip Demetrius was told that Denard's passing has improved, and that the offense was more cohesive.

I'm surprised we haven't had more talk about this quotation. It is interesting to me that the coaches are talking up Denard to him. Obviously this analysis is reaching, but one can't help but think they'd be saying "Tate really has the zone read down" if it were looking like he was the QB of the future. Curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

Big thanks to Tom for his always great info. I don't think there is a better recruitment blogger in the land.

Is it just me, or does this dee hart recruitment feel like the biggest teese ever? from everything I read and hear I keep coming to the conclusion that yes, he will play for us in 2011,, but the fact that it keeps dragging on and on makes me more nervous as the weeks pass..... I just don't want us to miss out on this kid not because we weren't a good fit, but because of all those unofficial trips during the spring he was going to take but fell through.... I don't know.... I guess I'm just expecting the worst, which is rather common among Wolverine fans these last few years :(